LOCAL AUTHOR SERVING OVERSEAS DONATES NOVEL TO CLERMONT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

It was a bittersweet moment for a local author when his book was released. The Williamsburg man was unable to celebrate with loved ones because he is world away in the Middle East. Frank Cecil received the first copy of his new book, Cloud of Glory, at Camp Spearhead in Kuwait. The book is so popular at the base that his wife, Mindy Cecil, has sent sixty copies overseas to the troops. Cloud of Glory, a military action/adventure novel, is now available at the Clermont County Public Library. Cecil has also donated additional copies to the library. He says, “I donated my novel in hope of reciprocating some of the positive benefits that my family and I have received from the library over the years. I’ve also done research there for Cloud of Glory and other projects.” Cecil was deployed to Kuwait in February for one year with the NCHB-9 Group of the Navy-Marine Corp Reserve Center from Cincinnati. He has served twenty years in the Marines, National Guard, and Navy. Cloud of Glory is based on the personal experiences of Cecil and his comrades during boot camp and active duty. Cloud of Glory explores the trials and tribulations of two men from very different cultures, an American training to be a Marine and a young Middle Eastern man. The novel shows a revealing view of personal struggle when their lives collide during a violent resistance movement. While Marine Derek Butler struggles through boot camp, sniper school and active duty; Ahmed Rashti dreams of a peaceful life with his fiancé. Rashti’s hopes are destroyed when she is killed in an attack. Grief and anger drive him to join a violent resistance movement where he participates in attacks and plans to force Americans out of his country. AuthorHouse, the book’s publisher, says Cloud of Glory is an illuminating look at fighting around the world and how those involved experience the conflict. Cecil resides in Williamsburg with his wife and four children. His passion for writing started as a hobby. Although Cecil has no formal training, he has completed two novels, a book of poetry, and numerous articles. While in Kuwait, he is writing the second book of a horror trilogy. The first book, Innocent Blood, has yet to be released. He hopes library patrons will enjoy the book as much as those at Camp Spearhead. Cecil says, “The response to Cloud of Glory has been very good. I was walking past a young man that bought one of the first copies and he said ‘I really like reading your book. I feel like I’m actually there with the characters.’ That is something every writer wants to hear!”